The Financial Infrastructure Fueling Tomorrow’s Mobility

NEW YORK, NY – December 10, 2025 – When we discuss the infrastructure powering the next wave of mobility, our minds typically leap to tangible assets: gleaming fiber optic cables, ubiquitous 5G towers, and intelligent sensor grids. These are the physical sinews of our increasingly connected world. Yet, beneath this visible layer lies a different, equally critical framework: the financial infrastructure that enables companies to build, innovate, and scale. For every smart traffic light installed or autonomous vehicle component manufactured, there is a middle-market company that required flexible, accessible capital to turn vision into reality. It is in this less-seen world of commercial finance that the groundwork for our connected future is truly laid.

Recently, a significant move by a nearly 200-year-old institution has highlighted the strategic importance of this financial underpinning. Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB), a $7 billion mutual bank based in Massachusetts, has signaled a major strategic push beyond its home state, appointing veteran financier W. Calvin “Cal” Navatto as Senior Vice President for Asset-Based Lending (ABL). This is far more than a routine executive appointment; it's a calculated play to capture a larger share of the dynamic East Coast market for specialized business lending.

A Strategic Move Beyond Massachusetts

Cambridge Savings Bank’s decision to bring on Navatto is a clear declaration of intent. While the bank has a formidable reputation in New England, ranking among the top commercial lenders in Massachusetts, this move plants a flag firmly in the broader East Coast financial landscape. Navatto will be based in the New York City area, placing him at the epicenter of a dense ecosystem of middle-market companies, private equity firms, and innovators—the very clients that thrive on the flexible capital ABL provides.

This geographic expansion is powered by deep expertise. Navatto brings decades of experience from senior roles at firms like eCapital Corp. and CIT, where he specialized in sourcing and closing complex ABL transactions and scaling regional lending offices. His proven ability to build referral networks and manage intricate client relationships is precisely what an institution needs to penetrate a competitive market. For CSB, this isn't just about expanding a loan book; it's about exporting its relationship-centric model, which has been a cornerstone of its success as a mutual institution committed to the communities it serves.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cal to Cambridge Savings Bank,” said Yvonne Kizner, Head of Asset-Based Lending at CSB, in the official announcement. “His ability to connect with clients, understand their needs, and deliver thoughtful financing solutions will strengthen our capabilities and help us continue providing flexible capital to growing businesses throughout the broader East Coast region.” This statement underscores the strategy: leveraging top-tier talent to drive regional growth and solidify the bank’s position as a key financial partner for ambitious companies.

The Rising Prominence of Asset-Based Lending

To understand the significance of CSB’s move, one must appreciate the evolving role of asset-based lending. Once primarily associated with distressed companies, ABL has transformed into a mainstream, strategic tool for healthy, growing businesses. It allows companies to secure working capital by borrowing against assets like accounts receivable, inventory, and equipment, rather than relying solely on cash flow or EBITDA metrics. This is particularly vital for companies in sectors like manufacturing, distribution, and technology—the very industries building our future infrastructure.

Market trends confirm this shift. The U.S. ABL market has grown to over $500 billion in commitments, with businesses increasingly seeking the liquidity and flexibility it offers to navigate supply chain disruptions, fund expansion, and invest in innovation. For a middle-market company developing smart city sensors, for example, a long production cycle can strain cash flow. An ABL facility, with advance rates of up to 85-90% on inventory and receivables, provides the crucial capital to bridge that gap and meet growing demand.

CSB has been actively cultivating this niche, offering ABL facilities typically ranging from $5 million to $25 million. Their portfolio already includes financing for companies like Arctaris Impact Investors, enhancing community investment strategies, and providing credit facilities to help consumer brands expand distribution. By bringing Navatto on board, CSB is doubling down on its ability to structure these creative, tailored solutions in a market where both large national banks and agile non-bank lenders are competing fiercely. The bank’s advantage lies in combining the lower cost of funds of a depository institution with the specialized, consultative approach of a boutique lender.

The Human Element in High-Value Finance

In an age of automated underwriting and fintech disruption, CSB’s strategy highlights a timeless principle: in complex finance, human expertise remains the ultimate differentiator. Asset-based lending is not a one-size-fits-all product. It requires a deep understanding of a client's business model, industry cycles, and collateral quality. Structuring a deal for a software-as-a-service provider is vastly different from financing a specialty components manufacturer for the automotive industry.

This is where a seasoned relationship manager like Navatto becomes invaluable. His track record is not just in closing deals, but in structuring them—finding creative ways to value diverse assets and build facilities that support a company’s specific growth trajectory. This consultative approach builds the trust necessary for long-term partnerships, moving the bank from a simple creditor to a strategic advisor. With over 130 years of combined experience, CSB's ABL team already prides itself on this deep industry knowledge, and Navatto's appointment significantly amplifies that strength.

This focus on the human element is crucial for attracting the right clients. Entrepreneurs and executives in the mobility and infrastructure sectors are often navigating uncharted territory. They need financial partners who can understand their unique challenges and opportunities, not just apply a rigid formula. The ability to “deliver thoughtful financing solutions,” as Kizner noted, is what separates a transactional lender from a growth partner. By investing in top talent, CSB is investing in the quality of its relationships, a move designed to yield dividends far beyond interest payments.

Ultimately, the expansion of sophisticated financial tools like asset-based lending is an essential, if often overlooked, component of urban and technological progress. The companies designing resilient energy grids, optimizing logistics networks, and creating the software that will run smart cities depend on this financial plumbing to operate and grow. By strategically expanding its ABL capabilities on the East Coast, Cambridge Savings Bank is doing more than growing its balance sheet; it is reinforcing the financial infrastructure that will directly fuel the next wave of mobility and innovation.